You will require this permit if you intend to prospect land for all minerals other than coal (hand mining, prospecting or pegging) within a mining district. Some areas of the state are restricted. For further information contact the appropriate mining registrar.
Prospecting is the act of finding the existence, quality or quantity of minerals on, in or under land. This includes using a metal detector or similar handheld instrument or taking samples using only handheld instruments. It does not include hand mining. Pegging means marking out the boundaries of a mining claim or mining lease application.
Hand-mining means using hand-operated tools, such as picks, shovels, gads, sieves and windlasses to extract minerals by the holder of the prospecting permit.
Pegging means marking out the boundaries of a mining claim or mining lease application.
An environmental authority is not required, but you must comply with the small-scale mining code for environmental requirements.